H.297 creates the Free Degree Promise Grant Program to provide free associate’s degrees at Vermont’s Community College of Vermont (CCV) for eligible students. It directly affects Vermont students who completed CCV’s Early College program (earning 20+ credits), require full-time enrollment (12+ credits), and meet income thresholds. The program covers remaining tuition/fees after other aid and provides $500-$1,000 per semester for books/supplies based on household income, with support for up to five semesters or degree completion. This aims to address equity gaps in college access, particularly for low-income, first-generation, and historically underserved students.
H 182 proposes to require state licensure for early childhood educators. The bill establishes a new Vermont Board of Early Childhood Educators under the Office of Professional Regulation to oversee this licensing process. It defines the scope of practice for educators working with children from birth through eight years old. The bill also creates three distinct licensure levels (Early Childhood Educator I, II, and III), each with specific responsibilities and supervision requirements. Unless exempt, individuals will be prohibited from identifying as early childhood educators without this license.
H 318 requires all Vermont public schools to offer computer science education starting in the 2025-2026 school year: high schools must provide at least one course for grades 9-12, middle schools must offer exploratory computer science for grades 6-8, and elementary schools must teach foundational computer science and computational thinking. The bill establishes standards for course quality, mandates annual reporting on student participation (disaggregated by gender, race, disability status, etc.) and teacher qualifications, and creates a grant program to fund teacher professional development in computer science. School districts must submit detailed reports to the Agency of Education, which will publicly post aggregated data on course offerings and student demographics. This bill directly affects Vermont's public schools, teachers, and students by integrating computer science into the curriculum while supporting educator training and tracking equity in access.
H 130 expands Vermont's Advisory Council on Harassment, Hazing, and Bullying Prevention in Schools by adding 12 new member positions representing diverse groups, including student advocates from specific youth organizations, disability rights, LGBTQ+ advocacy, racial equity, and domestic violence prevention. The council must now review model prevention policies every two years, develop school resources (like restorative practice guides), and annually solicit student and parent input on bullying issues. The expanded council will submit detailed reports to education committees by January 15 each year, including recommendations for policy changes. This bill directly affects all Vermont public and independent schools, school staff, students, and families by strengthening coordinated prevention efforts and accountability. The changes take effect July 1, 2025.
H.165 proposes creating an Inclusive Schools Protection Fund to replace lost federal funding for inclusive programs in Vermont schools. The bill would directly fund school districts to support LGBTQ+ student programs, antidiscrimination efforts, inclusive curricula, and educator training on equity. It also protects existing resources like student gender/sexuality alliances, school equity coordinators, and mental health programs for marginalized students. The Agency of Education must annually report on the fund's effectiveness, and the bill directs the state to develop new revenue sources to sustain the fund.
This joint resolution authorizes the Green Mountain Boys State and Green Mountain Girls State programs to use Vermont State House chambers and committee rooms on June 26, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. The programs, sponsored by the American Legion and its Auxiliary, provide 12th-grade students with a mock legislative experience to learn about state government operations. The resolution requires approval from the Sergeant at Arms for facility use and directs the Secretary of State to notify the sponsoring organizations. It does not create new policy but formally grants permission for an existing educational program to utilize state facilities for a specific event.
H 472 updates fees and requirements for professionals regulated by Vermont's Office of Professional Regulation (OPR). It reduces biennial renewal fees for peer support providers from $50 to $75, increases verification license fees to $30, and requires cosmetology schools to include specific training on textured hair care (including cultural competency) in their curriculum. The bill also clarifies that disciplinary surcharges fund a Professional Regulatory Fee Fund and prohibits boards from charging renewal fees during lapsed license periods. These changes affect all licensed professionals under OPR, including nurses, cosmetologists, and peer support specialists, modernizing fee structures and training standards.
H 68 expands Vermont's National Guard Tuition Benefit Program to cover graduate degrees and second bachelor's degrees, directly affecting Vermont National Guard members who meet eligibility criteria. The bill allows members to receive tuition benefits for graduate studies or a second undergraduate degree, provided they haven't previously used the program for an undergraduate degree. Key provisions include requiring a two-year service commitment for each year of tuition benefit received and mandating repayment if members leave service early or fail to complete their degree while employed in Vermont. This update extends existing coverage beyond undergraduate programs without altering the core structure of the benefit program.
This bill requires Vermont public schools (prekindergarten through grade 12) to include instruction on social equity and justice in their curriculum, prohibiting restrictions on teaching topics like historical systems of oppression, race/gender as social constructs, and intersectional identities. It mandates that schools adopt policies affirming the dignity of all educators and students, bans influence from privately funded groups on curriculum decisions, and protects teachers from adverse action for following state/federal law in their teaching. The bill amends education standards to require curriculum development within existing State Board of Education frameworks, ensuring schools maintain autonomy while integrating these topics. It explicitly states the bill does not alter existing educational standards or dictate specific instructional materials.
H 15 provides financial assistance for room and board expenses at Vermont's residential postsecondary schools to eligible young adults who were in foster care or under kinship care. It directly affects youth who were under the Commissioner for Children and Families' custody for at least six months between ages 16-18, or who had kinship care guardianship with kinship assistance during that period. The bill funds specific room and board costs for these students pursuing higher education in Vermont, without covering tuition or other expenses.
